Fourteen years after Tony Graves was inducted into the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame, the event held annually at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in April, keeps bringing him home.

“I remember when they started the hall of fame, and I knew it was going to grow,” Graves said, “I live in Franklin, but Jackson is still home, and I like to support the hall of fame, because the hall was supportive of me when I was inducted in 2005.”

Graves, who is in banking in the Nashville area, graduated from Jackson Central-Merry in 1976 and signed to play football at then-Memphis State University.

A defensive back, he captained the 1979 Memphis State University football team and was named to the 1978 Associated Press All-South Independent Team.

During the hall of fame festivities, Graves is a regular at the noon luncheon – which attracted about 225 people.

He was part of the number reached 526 that filled 64 tables and lined the stage for the 34th annual banquet, Thursday evening.

“Its become a pretty special event every year,” Graves said, “And, it’s on my calendar every year to come back.”

(PHOTO: Tony Graves, right, visits with fellow inductee Jimmy Carmichael, center. Dan Morris is at the left)
David Thomas, Twitter– @DavidThomasWNWS
https://www.facebook.com/NewsTalk1015/